Domestic washing machine



May 28, 1940. J. R. HURLEY 2,

V DOMESTIC WASHINGIMACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet L ATTORNEY May 28, 1940- J. R. HURLEY v DOMESTIC WASHING MACHINE Filed Nbv. 21, 19:58

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 uvmvrm John A. Hurley ATTORNEY May 28, 1940. J. R. HURLEY DOMESTIC WASHING MACHINE a Shets-Sheet s Filed Nov. 21, 1938 INVENTOR. John R Hurley BY I A TTORNEY .25 ing an unsightly appearance.

I Patented May 28, F910 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- Application November 21,1938, Serial No. 241,591

2 Claims. 08-22) This invention is directed to clothes washing apparatus of the type utilized in the household. Modern home building construction at the present time has definitely assumed a trend towards designs wherein no basement is provided and which, therefore, necessitates carrying on the laundering operations either in the kitchen, or on the back porch. Furthermore, due to necessity and circumstances, occupants of apartments, particularly in the larger cities, are at least at times obliged, for convenience, to do a portion of their washing and' ironing operations in the kitchen of the apartment. It is also recognized that domestic washing machines, as heretofore constructed for handling a substantial capacity of clothes, are of such size and shape that they require a substantial amount of space, and therefore do not lend themselves practically and readily for use in such homes and apartments, due to the fact that such machines, as a rule, are of such dimensions as to be rather bulky and in the way when not in use, which further results in unduly crowding of a room or other locality where the machine is stored, as well as present- I am well aware that there are available at this time several types of small washing machines which, while occupying a small amount of floor space, are, as a rule, impractical for expeditiously washing an appreciable volume of clothes. Moreover, such small machines are generally not provided with power driven wringers and hence the excess water must be removed from the clothing by hand, and which operation is generally considered more laborious than any other part of the, washing process.

With the foregoing in mind, it is, therefore, one of the primary objects of my invention to provide a novel form of clothes washing appa- 0 ratus which is of substantial capacity and which is so constructed as to permit quick and easy adjustment of the machine to various heights at which it is most convenientfor the operator to utilize and which may be readily and substantially reduced in height so as to permit convenient storing of the apparatus in small quarters, in an out-of-the-way location when not in use, such as under a kitchen sink or under a-table, or in a wall cabinet, etc.

Another object is to provide a novel construction of clothes washing apparatus comprising a pair of telescopically associated casings in which the washing machine proper is-mounted, together with mechanism for elevating and lowering one of the casings, carrying the tub of the washing machine, to a desired height.

- A further object oi. this invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of hydraulically operated raising and lowering mechanism for varying the efiective height of the washing machine.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged, staggered, vertical section through the washing apparatus constituting this invention, taken substantially as indicated at line I-I on Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, horizontal section through the machine taken as indicated at line 2-2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, transverse section through the main hydraulic jack unit, which includes the reservoir of fluid, taken substantially as indicated at line 3.8 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical section, taken as indicated at line di on Fig. 2, showing the foot operated pump for actuating the hydraulic jacks.'

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, vertical section through one of the hydraulic jack elements, taken substantially as indicated at line 55 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical section through the release valve of, the main hydraulic jack unit, taken substantially as indicated at line 6 on Fig. 2. I

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical,

axial section through the center of the tub of 3 the machine showing the drive connections to the agitator.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section, taken at line 8--8 on Fig. 2, showing the means of connection of the tub supporting frame and external casing of the machine. Y

In the construction chosen for purpose of illustration of this invention, the machine includes a pair of upright, telescopically associated, tubular casings ill and ,II formed of sheet metal and, as specifically shown, of rectangular outline in cross section. The inner casing II is stationary and has its lower end formed with inturned marginal flanges l2, to which is rigidly secured a bottom plate i3; and connected in each of the lower comers of said inner casing are caster elements l4 which serve to support the entire machine and permit same to be conveniently moved from place to place. In order to reduce the frictional contact'between the inner and outer casings Ii and I respectively, while providing suitable guidance for telescopic movement of the outer casing ill with respect to the inner casing II, the upper portion of said inner casing H, is provided with a multiplicity of circumferentially spaced-apart, outwardly projecting, vertically extending ribs l6, disposed in sliding contact with the adjacent surface of the outer casing It, as seen inthe drawings.

The washing machine proper is mounted within the casings and includes a main support'lll, in the form of an inverted channel, extending diagonally of the casings and having its ends rigidly secured by means of brackets 20 to the inner wall of the inner casing l l, adjacent opposite corners of the casing, as seen in Fig. 2. The main support I8 carries a conventional driving mechanism which, while not shown in detail, maybe understood to include a rack and pinion drive arrangement for a vaned agitator of conventional design and designated at 2|, which is mounted within an upwardly open tub 22. An electrically powered driving motor 23 is mounted, in end-wise arrangement, on the bottom plate 13 of the inner casing II, which, by means of pulleys 23 and 23 through the medium of a belt 23 drives a vertically extending shaft 23 the upper end of which is provided with a driving pinion 24, meshing with a gear 25, which is rigidly secured on a vertically disposed drive shaft 26, journaled in a casing 21, which is secured to the support I8. The lower end of the shaft 26 projects below the casing 21 and has rigidly secured thereto a crank arm 29, the outer end of which is connected to a reciprocating rack bar 3|, which, as above mentioned, is in mesh with a pinion carried on the lower end of a vertically disposed drive shaft 32, which extends upwardly into and centrally of the tub for actu-,

ating the agitator 2|.

The tub 22 is of cylindrical form and is supported at its bottom on an annular gasket 34 of resilient material, such as rubber, which gasket is mounted in an annular supporting ring or frame 35. The upper marginal edge of the tub 22 is provided with a resilient gasket 31, preferably of rubber, of inverted U-shape cross section, upon which is seated a top 38, which is in the form of a casting, the outer marginal edge of which is rigidly secured to inturned marginal flanges 40, formedat the upper end of the outer casing ill, by means of screws 4|. .The top 38, together with the outer casing, is rigidly connected to the tub 22 by a plurality of tie-rods 43, the upper ends of which are threaded into bosses 38 formed on the under side of the top 38, while the lower ends of said rods are secured by means of nuts 43" to brackets 45, connected to and projecting laterally from the tub frame 35, as seen in Fig. 8. The top 38 is formed with a relatively large opening 36", disposed substantially centrally with respect to the tub 22, to provide access to the tub, and a recessed seat 38 is formed around said opening for accommodating a cover 46, which closes the upper end-of the tub 22, as seen in Fig. 1.

The top 38, adjacent one of the corners of the casings, is formed with a depending socket 38 in which is mounted a wringer post drive shaft, indicated generally at 48, providing power drive connections to a detachable wringer or a portable which is disposed within the socket 38 for providing mechanical drive connections to the detachable wringer or ironer in a customary manner. Said coupler together with the drive sleeve 49 are held in place by means of a collar 52, which is interposed between the upper end of sleeve 49 and a shoulder of the coupler; said collar being rigidly secured in the lower end of the socket 38 by means of a set screw 63. The lower end of the drive sleeve 49 has rigidly secured thereto by means of pins 54, a driving nut 55, engaging the driving shaft 26 which, as seen in the drawings. is of substantial length and projects upwardly into the drive sleeve a substantial distance so as to permit an appreciable amount of vertical separation of the shaft 26 and the sleeve 49. Said shaft 26 is formed externally with a multiplicity of splines 26, which are engaged by cooperatively formed splines in the interior of the nut 55 so as to provide a drive connection between the shaft 26 and the drive sleeve 49 at various positions of telescopic adjustment of said drive shaft and sleeve. It will be apparent, therefore, that a driving connection is provided for the coupler for operating the wringer or an ironing machine at various elevated positions of adjustment of the top together with the external casing ill with respect to the stationary or inner casing II. I

The agitator drive shaft 32 projects upwardly into the tub a substantial distance into a tubular drive sleeve 60 and which sleeve is surrounded by an outer sleeve 6i, the opposite ends of which are provided with bearings 62 and 63 to provide journal support for the driving sleeve 60. The lower end of the sleeve 6! has rigidly secured thereto a coupling member 64, having a flange 65 adapted to be disposed adjacent the underside of the bottom wall of the tub, and threaded externally on said member 64 is a nut 66 for embracing the tub bottom between said nut and the flange 65, with resilient packing gaskets 61 interposed therebetween. The lower end of the drive sleeve 60, beneath the tub, has rigidly secured thereto, by means of pins 69, a driving nut 10, which is formed for cooperative engagement with a multiplicity of splines 32 extending longitudinally of the shaft 32 to provide a telescopic driving connection between the mechanism fixedly mounted in the inner casing ii, and the agitator 2|, throughout a substantial range of vertical adjustment of said tub 22, the agitator 2| together with the top 38 and the exterior casing l0, relatively to the inner or stationary casing H. The agitator is rigidly attached to the driving sleeve 60 at its upper end by means of a driving head 12, secured by means of a pin.

13 to the driving sleeve 60, and the upper end of the agitator is formed for a drive fit on the head 12 to which it is rigidly secured by means of a hand screw 14.

The tub 22, together with the top and external casing ID, are adapted to be elevated with respect to the lower casing to a position such as indicated in dot and dash outline in Fig. 1 or to any intermediate position at which it is most convenient for the operator to utilize. The means provided for accomplishing such adjustment includes three circumferentially spaced-apart cylinder and piston units designated generally at 16, each of which include a cast base 11 formed with a chamber 18 into which is rigidly secured, as by threading, the lower end of an upright tube or cylinder 19, the upper end of said cylinder being threaded and provided with a cap 80, surrounding a piston 0i. with suitable packing as indicated.

at 82 interposed between said cap and the end of the cylinder I9, for sealingthe fluid around the piston element 8| within the cylinder 19. The upper end of each of the piston elements is rigidly secured to a bracket 84 projecting laterally from the supporting frame 35 of the tub. as may be seen in Fig. 5. The lower end of each of said pistons may be provided with any suitable material, such as leather, to insure perfect sealing of the piston within the cylinder. The chambers 18 of the respective units are interconnected by tubes or pipes 85, and one of the units is directly associated with and formed as a part of the main casting 88. which is formed with a fluid reservoir chamber 89, and with which is associated ,a pumping mechanismdndicated generally at 90. The main casting 88 as well as the individual cylinderepisto'n units are rigidly secured, as by means of bolts M, to the bottom I3 of the inner casing, and the main unit,

' as seen in Fig. 2, is disposed adjacent one 01 the corners of the inner casing. The main casting 88 is formed with a chamber 94 with which is associated the pumping device 90 and which comprises a cylinder 95 threaded at its lower end into the chamber 94, with a piston 98 disposed in the chamber. A cap or nut 91 is secured to the upper end of the cylinder 95, with packing material 98 interposed between the upper end of the cylinder and the cap to form a seal around the piston.- The upper end of the piston 95 is pivotally connected at 99 to anoperating lever I00 which. in turn, is pivoted at IOI to a pair of upstanding lugs I02 formed on top of the main casting 88. Said lever I00 extends adjaccnt the wall of the casing and its outer end is provided with a foot treadie member I03; pive otally secured thereto at I04, which foot treadle member is adapted .to be disposed in position as seen in full lines in Fig. 4, out ofthe way and substantially within the casings, or may be swung downwardly to a position as indicated in dot and dash outline, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4,

projecting through apertures formed in the walls of both inner and outer casings I I and I0 respectively, in a position of adjustment with respect to the floor where it is convenient for engagement by the foot for operation. Acoil spring I05 circumscribes the upper portion of the piston 96 and reacts against the cap 91 in a manner for normally urging the lever I00 and piston 96 to its upper position of adjustment.

The main casting 88 is formed with a duct I01 which connects the reservoir 89 with the chamber 94 of the pump, said duct being formed with a valve seat I08 with which cooperates a ball valve I09. The opposite side of the chamber 94 is connected by a duct I I0 which, in turn, connects into a transversely extending duct III, and said duct IIO adjacent the chamber 94 is formed with a valve seat II2 with which cooperates a ball valve H3. The duct III communicates directly with the chamber I8 formed in the main casting for the adjacent cylinder-piston jack unit, with which chamber is connected ander-piston units.

' and during the upward movement of the piston 96, the ball valve II3 engages the seat II2 for closing the duct 0. Upon the downstroke of the piston 98, such as when the lever I00 is deis forcedthrough the duct III and pipes 86 to the chambers I8 of each of the three cylinderpistonunits, the fluid, in turn, exerting pressure on the lower ends of the respective pistons 8| and thereby raises the ring frame together with the tub 22 and top 38 as well as, the external casing i0. It should be apparent that by virtue ofsuch an arrangement. the tub together with the top and external casing may be simply and easily raised by the exertion of relatively little force by the foot operation of the pump indicated at 90.

When the mechanism has been operated so as to adjust the tub to a desired working height, the hydraulic system, in the absence of any appreciable leaks, will retain the parts in such elevated position for substantial periods of time,

and when it is desired to collapse the unit so asto occupy a relatively small amount of space for convenient storing of the unit (as seen in Fig. 1), such as under a kitchen table or under a sink, I provide a by-pass valve for returning the fluid to the storage chamber 89. This by-pass includes an upwardly extending duct H6 communicating-a-t its lower end with theduct III,

while its upper end communicates with a transverse duct Ill opening intothe reservoir chamber 89. A hand operated valve I I8 controls communication between the ducts H5 and Ill so that when it is desired to lower the apparatus to a position such as seen in Fig. 1, it is merely necessary to unscrew the valve I I8 to permit bypassing of the fluid into the storage chamber. Due to the weight being supported by the fluid within the cylinder-piston units, said fluid manifestly will be forced back through the system for expulsion through the ducts I I6 and Ill into the storage chamber; 89, and the lowering of the machine may, if desired, be arrested at any intermediate position by merely closing the hand valve H8.

It will be manifest that in vertically adjusting the machine for disposal of the tub at a desired working height, the telescopic drive connections between the tubular drive sleeve 60 of the agitator and the driving sleeve 49 for actuating the wringer or ironer maintain a telescopic driving relation with the respective splined drive shafts 32 and 26 of the driving mechanism. It will also be apparent that by virtue of the structure herein disclosed, that the total weight to be elevated is of no great. moment in view of the fact that the motor, together with the driving mechanism propielr, is fixedly mounted within the inner casing 0 Although I have herein shown and describedone embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is capable of substantial modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the cylinder-piston units may, if desired, be connected by separate ducts directlyto the pump unit 90, and the frame member 35 may be of such form as to insure substantial rigidity to maintain a relatively substantial balance of the mechanism being raised and lowered irrespective of the onset load on a portion of the machine, such as may exist when the wringer or ironing machine is mounted thereon for use. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as it may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

a 1. In combination, a pair of upright telescopically associated casings of tubular cross-section, one of said casings being stationary and provided with casters at its lower end for supporting V -iton the floor, a washing machine mounted within said casings and including a tub connected for support at the upper end of the other casing, an agitator in the tub, a fixed support in said one casing, a motor and driving mechanism mounted on the support, and extensible driving connections between the driving mechanism and the agitator, and manually operated means, within the stationary casing, for raising and lowering said other casing, tub and agitator as a unit in telescoping relation to said stationary casing, and thereby varying the height of the tub relatively to the floor. 2. In combination, a pair of upright telescopically associated casings of tubular cross-section, one of said casings being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart guide elements positioned for sliding contact with the adjacent surface of the other casing; one of said casings being stationary and provided with casters at its lower end for supporting it on the floor, a washing machine mounted within said casings and including a tub connected for support at the upper end of the other casing, an agitator in the tub, a fixed support in said one casing, a motor and driving mechanism mounted on the support, and

extensible driving connections between the driving mechanism and the agitator, and manually operated means, within the stationary casing, for raising and lowering said other casing, tub and agitator as a unit in telescoping relation to said stationary casing, and thereby varying the,

height of the tub relatively to the floor.

3. In combination, a pair of upright telescopically associated casings of tubular cross-section, one of said casingsbeing formed with a plurality of vertically extending, circumferentially spacedapart guide ribs disposed in sliding contact with the adjacent surface of the other casing; one of said casings being stationary and provided with casters at its lower end for supporting it on the floor, a washing machine mounted within said casings and including a tub connected for support at the upper end of the other casing, an agitator in the tub, a fixed support in said one casing, a motor and driving mechanism mounted on the support, and extensible driving connections between the driving mechanism and the agitator, and manually operated means, within the stationary casing, for raising and lowering said other casing, tub and agitator as a unit in telescoping relation to said stationary casing, and thereby varying the height of the tub relatively to the floor.

4. In combination, a pair of upright telescopically associated casings of tubular cross-section, Having a limited range of movement relatively to each other, the upper portion of one casing being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart guide elements positioned for sliding contact with the adjacent surface of the other casing, and the lower portion of the inner casing being disposed out of contact with said outer casing, when said casings are completely telescoped together; one of said casings being stationary and provided with casters at its lower end for supporting it on the floor, a washing machine mounted within said casings and including a tub connected for support at the upper end of the other casing, an agitator in the tub, a fixed support in said one casing, a motor and driving mechanism mounted on the support, and extensible driving connections between the driving mechanism and the agitator, and manually operated means within the stationary casing, for raising and lowering said other casing, tub and agitator as a unit-in telescoping relation to said stationary casing, and thereby varying the height of the tub relatively to the floor.

5. In combination, a pair of upright telescopically associated casings of tubular cross-section, the inner casing being stationary and provided with casters at its lower end for supporting it on the floor, a washing machine mounted within said casings and including a tub connected for support at the upper end of the outer casing, an agitator in the tub, a fixed support in said inner casing, a motor and driving mechanism mounted on the support, and extensible driving connections between the driving mechanism and the agitator, and manually operated means, within the inner casing, for raising and lowering the outer casing, tub and agitator as a unit in telescoping relation to the inner casing, and thereby varying the height of the tub relatively to the floor.

6. In a collapsible washing machine, a support, a motor and driving mechanism mounted on the support, an imperforate, non-rotatable tub mounted for vertical movement relatively to the support, an agitator in the tub, manually operated means for raising and lowering the tub and agitator relatively to the support, and extensible drive connections between the driving mechanism and the agitator, for maintaining drive connections at various elevated positions of adjustment of the tub and agitator.

7. In a washing machine, a support, a motor and driving mechanism mounted on the support, a tub mounted for vertical movement relatively to the support, an agitator in the tub, a top connected to and surrounding the marginal edge of the tub, a wringer drive shaft supported by said top, manually operated means for raising and lowering the tub and agitator, together with said top and wringer drive shaft as a unit, and extensible drive connections between said driving mechanism and said agitator and wringer drive shaft.

8. In a washing machine, a support, a motor and driving mechanism mounted on the support, a tub mounted for vertical movement relatively to the support, an agitator in the tub, a top connected to and surrounding the marginal edge of the tub, a wringer drive shaft supported by said top, an upright tubular casing secured at its upper end to said top and enclosing said tub and wringer drive shaft, manually operated means for raising and lowering the tub and agitator, together with said top and casing and wringer driveshaft as a unit, and extensible drive connections between said driving mechanism and said agitator and wringer drive shaft.

9. In a washing machine, a support, a motor and driving mechanism mounted on the support, a tub mounted for vertical movement relatively to the support, an agitator in the tub, hydraulically operated means for raising and lowering the tub and agitator relatively to the support including a plurality of circumferentially spacedapart cylinder and piston units and a foot operated means for simultaneously controlling the passage of fluid into said units, and extensible drive connections between the driving mechanism and the agitator.

10. In combination, a pair of upright telescopically associated casings of tubular cross-section, one of said casings being stationary and provided with casters at its lower end for supporting it on the floor, a washing machine mounted within said casings and including a tub connected for support at the upper end of the other casing, an agitator in the tub, a fixed support in said one casing, a motor and driving mechanism mounted on the support, and extensible driving connections between the driving mechanism and the agitator, a supporting frame for the tub, and hydraulically operated means within the stationary casing, for raising said supporting frame, tub, agitator and said other casing as a unit for varying the height of the tub relatively to the floor.

11. In combination, a pair oi! upright telescopically associated casings of tubular cross-section, one of said casings being stationary and provided with casters at its lower end for supporting it on the floor, a washing machine mounted within said casings and including a tub connected for support at the upper end of the other casing, an agitator in the tub, a fixed support in said one casing, a motor and driving mechanism mounted on the support, and extensible driving connections between the driving mechanism and the agitator, a supporting frame for the tub, and hydraulically operated means within the stationary casing, for raising said supporting frame, tub. agitator and said other casing as a unit for varying the height of the tub relatively to the floor, said hydraulically operated means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart cy1inder and piston units operably connected to the supporting frame, and foot operated means for simultaneously controlling the passage of fluid into said units. a

12. In combination, a pair of upright telescopically associated casings of tubular cross-section,- the inner casing being stationary and provided with casters at its lower end for supporting it on the floor, a washing machine mounted within said casings and including a tub connected for support at the upper end of the outer casing, an agitator in the tub, a fixed support in said one casing, a motor and driving mechanism mounted on the support, and extensible driving connections between the driving mechanism and the agitator, a supporting frame for the tub, and hydraulically operated means within the stationary casing, for raising said supporting frame, tub, agitator and said outer casing as a unit for varying the height of the tub relatively to the floor, said hydraulically operated means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart cylinder and piston units operably connected to the supporting frame, and foot operated meansfor simultaneously controlling the passage of fluid into said units.

JOHN R. HURLEY. 

